Stephen Gostkowski boots 3 field goals for Patriots

Monday

Sep 23, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Jennifer Toland, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

FOXBORO — At the end of the first half of last week's game against the Jets, Stephen Gostkowski missed a 43-yard field goal — badly — but he was right on with his 53-yard attempt as time ran out in the first half Sunday.

The Patriots got the ball back with 11 seconds left after Aqib Talib's interception.

"It was good to have a little redemption," Gostkowski said. "You just never know with that much time left on the clock, you didn't think we were going to get the ball back again. But we make an interception. (Long snapper) Danny (Aiken), (holder) Ryan Allen and myself did a good job of staying ready and we were fortunate to have the wind behind my back. I kicked it the best I could and it was the best kick I've had all year and it was nice."

The 53-yarder tied a career-best for Gostkowski. It was his eighth career field goal of 50 or more yards, tying Adam Vinatieri for the Patriots' all-time mark.

Gostkowski also connected from 46 and 33 yards.

Trio of sacks on Freeman

The Patriots sacked quarterback Josh Freeman three times.

Defensive end Chandler Jones raised his team-leading sack total to three. In the first quarter, he combined with Rob Ninkovich to drop Freeman for a 2-yard loss and with Tommy Kelly in the third for a 7-yard loss.

Jerod Mayo sacked Freeman for a 1-yard loss on the final play of the first quarter.

"We're doing good as a defense overall, not just the defensive line," Jones said of keeping up the pressure. "Those sacks, a lot of the stuff that you don't see, a lot of those sacks are coverage sacks. I'll speak from a personal level, a lot of those sacks I get, there is a lot of hard work, but a lot of them are coverage sacks. A lot of kudos to that secondary."

ESPN reported before the game that the Patriots and Ninkovich agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2016 season.

Gronkowski sits out again

Patriots fans will have to wait at least one more week before they get to see tight end Rob Gronkowski. He didn't play against the Bucs, and the general feeling around here is that he will make his season debut next week in Atlanta.

Gronkowski, who is coming back from back and forearm surgery, was a limited participant in practice all week and was listed as questionable for Sunday's game.

That was an upgrade from his doubtful status the first two weeks of the season.

Starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer left the game with a foot injury and did not return. Marcus Cannon took his spot at the beginning of the third quarter. … At 88-16, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has the best record in home games among starting QBs since the 1970 merger. … Freeman finished 19 for 41, his third straight game he's completed less than 50 percent of his throws.